Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-09-23

| As he passed the reviewing stand the
president arose and tipped his hat. lt
! was one continuous round or hu2zas.
Behind Gen. Sheridan came the city
| troop of cavalry, and they presented "A
| beautiful appearance Admiral Luce rode
at the head OF the column or the naval
turnout, and preceded the marine band;
| Following closely were the detachment or
marines from the north Atlantic SQUAD
ron. They drew up company front IN
front of the stand and broke into "eights,
their evolutions being models OF precision
The life-saving service followed them with
a pretty display
Gov. Briggs, the veneral le Delawarian,
came up at the front OF the delaware
troops Gen. Sheridan, Notwithstanding
the plaudits of the multitude, rode erect,
looking neither TO the right nor left. As
each platoon passed the president their
commander gracefully raised his hat and
saluted him, receiving in return low or
recognition
The end o the parade was occupied by
the Grand Army of the Republic, and ai
each post passed in front or the STAND lts
commander gave salute TO the president
and was recognized. Post OF Philadel'
phia carried in the center II OF the flags
captured by them during the war. They
were a mass Of tattered and torn colors,
but they were honored by the spectators
with cheers whose echo never seemed TO
die
In the evening again a reception was
given the President and Mrs. Cleveland,
| 1900 people attending among the mum
Der being Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop
Ryan, many foreign diplomats, and the
! governors Of New \ ORR, Ohio, virginia,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia,
florida. New Hampshire and many other
distinguished Americans. The president
in acknow ledging the cordially manifest
| ed made "A brief speech, expressing his
pleasure AT seeing so many newspaper
men present as il satisfied him that they
were not doing mischievous work else
| horn At ha nAn ret al laa
club sang: FOR he's jolly good fellow"
ON the morning o. the 18th President
Cleveland was lat home 10 the people
for an hour and half. IN the
commiss oner's room in the city hall. lie
! was accompanied bY Secretaries Bayard
and Fairchld. There were fully 5000
people waiting, not one-thlrd of whom
succeeded in greeting the president. At
the close of this reception the presidential
| party were driven to Independence
square where memorial meeting was
! held
On the stand at the square was repre-
sented every branch ana condition in life
which goes 10 make up a nation. Side by
side were the chief magistrate, the highest
| ecclesiastical representatives, the justices
Of the highest law tribunal, the ministers
! of foreign powers, the national lawmakers
and representatives of the army and navy
and other departments Of civil. military
| and religious life The stand in rear OF
old historical hall had a seating capacity
Of about 1000, and was filed early. At
! the front of the stand facing south a
clearance was rallied of for the president
and his party, the speaker and Others. AT
the front, in full view, hung photo
| graphic copy of the original constitution.
| At the east side of the stand stood the
quaint old high backed chair occupied by
George Washington as the presiding Of
ficer Of the congress which adopted that
constitution.
The exercises were opened by singing by
the childrens chorus of 200 voices, led by
| 200 male voices Bishop Potter made the
opening prayer, and when il was finished
Lieut.. Gen. Philip II Sheridan, with his
aides, followed closely by Cardinal Glib.
bons, Archbishop Ryan and number Of
| atholic clergy, marched down the aisle.
cheered to the echo. When they had been
seated the Hon. John \. kasson, a presi-
dent OF the constitutional centennial com
mission. made the Introductory address of
the day. At the conclusion the chorus
sang appeal TO Truth" 10y Schiller Men
delssohn, with beautiful effect, after which
the president began his address His
enunciation was clear and perfect and his
voice rang out audibly to the Thousands
of ears.
President Cleveland congratulated all
present upon the fact that they are Amer
lean citizens He disserted upon the diff
culties OF the way traversed by the trainers
of the constitution declaring that since
its completion the God ofnatIons has held
the rising san of the new people on its
course, and though occasionally obscured
by clouds and storms, has made the people
humble. il has shone forth with renewed
warmth to light the world-a new miracle
| Of creation.
Before the echo of his words had died
away there was cheering which was
fairly deafening When quiet had been
restored Justice Miller of the United States
court began the delivery of his memorial
Grafton, in the course of which he said
There Is no danger in this country from
the power reposed IN the presidential of
| flee. There Is, sad experience shows,
far more danger from nihilism and assas-
| slnatlon. than from ambition in our pub
| lie servants
SO far have the incumbents of the presi-
| dency during the hundred years of its
history, been from grasping, or attempt
ing TO grasp powers not warranted by the
| constitution. and so far from exercising
the admitted power of that Office in
! despotic manner candid student of our
| political history during that time cannot
| fail to perceive that no one of the three
great departments OF the government has
| been more shorn of its Just powers. or
crippled in the exercise of them, than the
| presidency.
In regard TO the function of appointment
TO ofiice-perhaps the most important of
the executive duties-the spirit of the
constitution requires that the president
shall exercise freely his best Judgment
andfollow his most sincere conviction in
selecting proper men
| IL is undeniable that for many wears
| past, by the gradual growth of custom, it
| has come TO pass that in the nomination
of officers by the president, he has so far
submitted TO be governed by the wishes
| and recommendations or Interested mem
bers of the two houses of congress, that
| the purpose of the constitution in vesting
this power in him, and the right of the
| public to hold him personally responsible
for each and every appointment he makes,
are largely defeated.
IL experience can teach nything on the
subject of theories of government the
late civil war teaches Enthusiastically that
those who believed the source of danger
TO be in the strong powers of the federal
government we're in error aud that those
who believed that such powers were nee
essary TO its safe conduct and continued
existence were in right.
Mrs Cleveland sat almost in front OF the
speakers position and was the cynosure
of all eyes.
ANOTHER HORROR.